Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rTMS for improving cognition of PD patients.

Background: Up to 20%–50% of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have cognitive impairment. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a nonpharmacological treatment option for cognitive impairment in PD while its curative effect is unclear.

Method: Four online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBase, Web of Science) were extensively searched from their inception through December 2018. Randomized controlled trials were included if they examined the impact of rTMS on cognition.

Results: Seven studies met the inclusions criteria. The quality of evidence in these studies was rated as moderate to high. Compared with sham-controlled group, the pooled result showed a non-significant effect of rTMS on global cognition (post-intervention effect WMD:-0.42, 95% CI: -1.46 to 0.63; one-month follow-up result WMD: 0.11, 95% CI: –0.88 to 1.10), executive function (post-intervention effect SMD: 0.11, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.40; one-month follow-up result SMD: 0.24, 95% CI: –0.11 to 0.58), as well as attention and working memory (post-intervention effect SMD:-0.17, 95% CI: -0.60 to 0.26; one-month follow-up result SMD: –0.0, 95% CI: –0.48 to 0.48). As regard to study design, neurological test, disease severity and stimulation parameter concerning simulating site, number of sessions as well as rTMS frequency, no effects were observed.

Conclusion: Based on limited studies, the effect of rTMS in PD seemed to be negative. We called for more high-quality randomized controlled trials with adequate sample sizes to demonstrate the actual effects of rTMS in the future.

« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/repetitive-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-rtms-fails-to-improve-cognition-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-meta-analysis-of-randomized-controlled-trials/